Property tax return for private property: New portal launched without Elster certificate

A reform of the property tax brought the Elster tax platform to a standstill just a few days ago. After all, almost 36 million properties from all over Germany have to be completely revalued and the corresponding tax return has to be submitted electronically. With the new portal property tax declaration for private property, the transmission now also takes place completely without Elster certificate.

Property tax return for private property: portal launched

After the Elster crash, the Federal Ministry of Finance has launched a new Internet portal for property tax reform. It is called, quite pragmatically, “Property tax declaration for private property” and is accessible immediately via its own website.

In just a few steps you can check yourself on the basis of several questions whether you can use the tool. Here you need to specify who is filing the property tax return, who was or is the owner and in which state the property is located.

A total of eleven states are currently approved for use. Hesse, Hamburg or Bavaria, on the other hand, do not, for example. The advantage for private individuals is that no Elster certificate is required. All information can be entered and processed directly via the homepage.

Preparation simplifies the process

The Federal Ministry of Finance also recommends preparing for the property tax return. For example, it is important to gather together various documents. This includes the information letter from the federal state with attached supplementary sheet or data master sheet, the property tax portal, and optionally a land register excerpt, notice of assessed value, purchase/gift agreement, declaration of partition in the case of condominiums or construction/survey documents.

Information on the size of the property, tax number, standard ground value, year of construction of the building and some other information should ideally be known prior to implementation. You can find everything you need to know directly in the “Frequently Asked Questions” section of the portal.

Moreover, the use of the property tax declaration service for private property is free of charge and possible even for several properties. To register, you need an e-mail address and your tax ID. After registration, you will receive an activation code by mail, after which you can then submit your tax return.

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By when do I have to submit the property tax return?

The reform of the property tax came into force on 01 January 2022. In this context, the tax return, on the other hand, can only be submitted electronically via the online tax platform ELSTER since 01 July. As things stand at present, the submission deadline is October 31, 2022.

The new property tax values, which will be used as the basis for property tax from the calendar year 2025, will then be determined on the basis of the information provided. All details on the reform of the real estate tax can also be found on the topic page of the Federal Ministry of Finance.